Two Worlds in Prayer | Revelation 6:9-17 | J. Allen Mashburn

As we continue our journey through the book of Revelation, we are just beginning to deal with the events related to the Tribulation.  As we understand it, this period of terror and judgment will not begin until the church has been removed from the world in the Rapture.  The Tribulation Period itself is a seven year period of time that is divided into two 3 ½ year segments.  The first half is known as the Tribulation and the last half as the Great Tribulation.

In our last study we looked at the first of four seal judgments that will come upon the world.  We saw the rise of the Antichrist, and the coming wars, famines and pestilence that will claim the lives of ¼ of the earth’s population.  The first four seals deal with the first 3 ½ year portion of the Tribulation.  The two seals we will consider today will deal with the last 3 ½ year portion of the Tribulation Period.

 

Just so you will know, the book of Revelation is not written in chronological order.  The events do not necessarily take place in order in which they are written.  The events of this book overlap in time.  As we continue to move through the book, we are going to be seeing events that will overlap one another from time to time.  In Revelation 6:1, from this verse it describes the actions of the great King, the Lord Jesus Christ, in claiming His inheritance, breaking the power of the usurper, Satan, and ultimately defeating all His foes—bringing His people finally to the great Kingdom reign and heaven itself.

It is important to note:  Jesus is opening the seals on the scroll in heaven.  Jesus is unleashing every element.  He is sovereignly in control, and exercising the great strength, restraint in His dealings with men on the Earth, and it is He who gives the Antichrist in (6:1), his nod to proceed with Satan’s evil work BUT it is God’s plan to bring judgment to prideful and sinful humanity.  In essence, they are pawns in the Hands of God—exercising His will in every circumstance.

In our verses today, we see an unusual dynamic at work.  We see people in Heaven and people on the earth in prayer.  We see both saints and sinners engaged in the business of prayer.  We want to study these two seal judgments today.  As we do, I would like to talk to you about a couple of the events that will take place during the latter portion of the Tribulation Period.